The Biology of Camel-Spiders

Arachnida, Solifugae

Nonfiction, Science & Nature, Science, Biological Sciences, Zoology
Cover of the book The Biology of Camel-Spiders by Fred Punzo, Springer US
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Fred Punzo ISBN: 9781461557272
Publisher: Springer US Publication: December 6, 2012
Imprint: Springer Language: English
Author: Fred Punzo
ISBN: 9781461557272
Publisher: Springer US
Publication: December 6, 2012
Imprint: Springer
Language: English

My initial interest in the Solifugae (camel-spiders) stems from an incident that occurred in the summer of 1986. I was studying the behavioral ecology of spider wasps of the genus Pepsis and their interactions with their large theraphosid (tarantula) spider hosts, in the Chihuahuan Desert near Big Bend National Park, Texas. I was monitoring a particular tarantula burrow one night when I noticed the resident female crawl up into the burrow entrance. Hoping to take some photographs of prey capture, I placed a cricket near the entrance and waited for the spider to pounce. Suddenly, out of the comer of my eye appeared a large, rapidly moving yellowish form which siezed the cricket and quickly ran off with it until it disappeared beneath a nearby mesquite bush. So suddenly and quickly had the sequence of events occurred, that I found myself momentarily startled. With the aid of a headlamp I soon located the intruder, a solifuge, who was already busy at work macerating the insect with its large chelicerae (jaws). When I attempted to nudge it with the edge of my forceps, it quickly moved to another location beneath the bush. When I repeated this maneuver, the solifuge dropped the cricket and lunged at the forceps, gripping them tightly in its jaws, refusing to release them until they were forcefully pulled away.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

My initial interest in the Solifugae (camel-spiders) stems from an incident that occurred in the summer of 1986. I was studying the behavioral ecology of spider wasps of the genus Pepsis and their interactions with their large theraphosid (tarantula) spider hosts, in the Chihuahuan Desert near Big Bend National Park, Texas. I was monitoring a particular tarantula burrow one night when I noticed the resident female crawl up into the burrow entrance. Hoping to take some photographs of prey capture, I placed a cricket near the entrance and waited for the spider to pounce. Suddenly, out of the comer of my eye appeared a large, rapidly moving yellowish form which siezed the cricket and quickly ran off with it until it disappeared beneath a nearby mesquite bush. So suddenly and quickly had the sequence of events occurred, that I found myself momentarily startled. With the aid of a headlamp I soon located the intruder, a solifuge, who was already busy at work macerating the insect with its large chelicerae (jaws). When I attempted to nudge it with the edge of my forceps, it quickly moved to another location beneath the bush. When I repeated this maneuver, the solifuge dropped the cricket and lunged at the forceps, gripping them tightly in its jaws, refusing to release them until they were forcefully pulled away.

More books from Springer US

Cover of the book Behavioral Consultation in Applied Settings by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book Drug and Alcohol Abuse by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book Systems Biomechanics of the Cell by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book Coping with War-Induced Stress by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book Dehalogenation by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book Linear and Multiobjective Programming with Fuzzy Stochastic Extensions by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book The Portable Mentor by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book Police as Problem Solvers by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book Beyond Trauma by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book The Practice Nurse by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book Enriching Business Ethics by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book Parent—Child Interaction Therapy by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book Organizational Learning by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book School-Based Multisystemic Interventions For Mass Trauma by Fred Punzo
Cover of the book Uncertainty Management in Simulation-Optimization of Complex Systems by Fred Punzo
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy